California firefighters used 50,000 gallons of water to extinguish a burning Tesla semi-truck last month, according to a government report.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its findings Thursday from an investigation into a Tesla semi-truck crash on August 19. The electric vehicle crashed offroad on Interstate 80 in California, was stopped by trees, and then caught fire from its lithium-ion battery system.
First responders used 50,000 gallons of water to extinguish the fire. For reference, a typical fire tanker truck holds 3,000 gallons of water.
Officials closed the westbound and eastbound lanes of the interstate for 14 to 15 hours as firefighters monitored the area.
According to the report, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection used aircraft to douse the surrounding forest area with fire retardant as an additional precautionary measure. A Tesla technical expert was also called to the scene to consult with first responders about the lithium-ion battery system.
Firefighters previously said the Tesla battery reached temperatures of 1,000 degrees, according to The Associated Press. The NTSB report stated a thermal scanner monitored the battery temperature but did not state a specific measure.
The California Highway Patrol and California Department of Transportation also responded to the scene.
The Tesla semi-truck was traveling from Livermore, California, to a company facility in Sparks, Nevada. The NTSB report states that the truck hit a traffic post while driving on a rightward curve, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle struck a tree and continued down a hill offroad before stopping against an additional stand of trees.
The driver was unharmed.
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. After years of planning, the company launched its electric semi-truck in December 2022.
The electric semi-truck has an estimated range of 500 miles. The company claims it can save $150,000 in fuel costs within three years of ownership.
Tesla shareholders voted in June to make Texas the company’s legal base, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. The company moved its headquarters to Austin in 2021.
